On the Measurement of the Turbulence Dissipation Rate from Rising Balloons

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the feasibility of turbulence measurements below a rising balloon. From a typical case study we show the ability of the helisonde, hung below a large diameter balloon, to resolve the vertical profile of the dissipation rate in the troposphere and stratosphere. We examine the potential effect of the balloon wake, and the results emphasize the importance of a wind shear measurement in order to interpret properly the basic data.